Should I Repeat My Ghusl as I Saw Yellow Discharge?

Answered by Ustadha Shazia Ahmad

Question

I checked for the end of my period and saw the tissue was unstained, so I did a ghusl. After that, I had a yellow thread-like discharge until yesterday, and then I saw a white discharge.

Is it spotting, or should I assume I’m still menstruating? In case of spotting, do I have to do wudu before prayer?

Answer

Thank you for your question. May Allah reward you and facilitate your matters for you.

Yellow Discharge

If you see yellow discharge after your ritual bath (ghusl), you are still menstruating if 15 days have not elapsed from the beginning of your period. You should take your bath again when you see clear or white.

Kursuf

I highly recommend that you check the end of your period by using a kursuf. A kursuf is a small piece of white cotton, cloth, paper towel, or tissue (pick something that doesn’t disintegrate) that is folded and placed between the labia (minora). When it is removed, it’s very clear whether one’s discharge is white, clear, or colored. Seeing any color at all means that one is not pure yet.

One places the kursuf about 30-60 minutes before the end of the prayer time, and one should walk around for a bit in order to make the discharge come down. Then one may check the kursuf after 5-10 minutes, and usually, it will be very clear whether one’s period is over or not, as one will see a colored stripe or not. If it is white or clear, one will have sufficient time to shower and pray. One can repeat the process at the end of the next prayer time if one finds color.

Many find this method easier than inserting a cloth or tissue to check the color, as it is less painful, doesn’t cause harm, and is more reliable. (I know some who start bleeding from irritation by inserting something to check the color.)

Please see these links as well:
Can I Take a Ritual Bath When I See Yellow Discharge at the End of Menses?
Does Yellow Mean That My Period Is Over and I Can Shower?

May Allah give you the best of this world and the next.
[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria, for two years, where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin and completed her Master’s in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan, where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.